Bill Marshall heads off down memory lane again to recall the Press' sporting headlines during this week 20, 50 and 80 years ago...

80 YEARS AGO

IF the sign of a good side is their ability to bounce back, then York City must be a brilliant side.

On the back of their record 12-0 defeat at Chester, The Minstermen beat Lincoln City 2-1, and a fairer reflection, wrote Citizen, would have been 4-1.

Mind you, the hosts hadn't lost at Bootham Crescent since September 28.

There was tons of sand on what was a hard surface but York were keen to atone for their record defeat and, with Stan Fox and Ted Hathway in fine form in defence, the home side scored via Jimmy Hughes, who deflected in Hathaway's free-kick, and Peter Spooner.

The stuffing at Chester did, however, affect the attendance, which was only 3,000.

If Featherstone Rovers had had a goal-kicker – shades of Zak Hardaker at Headingley last Thursday – they would probably have beaten visitors York.

As it was, York won 13-8 via tries by Thomas, Rees and Hardgrove, and a goal and a penalty by Dingsdale.

Meanwhile, York had four players in the latest trial match for the Australian tour at Headingley, with Field and Sharpe in the Whites team that beat the Stripes 19-0, who had Rees and Welsh among their ranks.

With blizzards in the American mid-West and gales in the North Sea that meant that the Whitby lifeboat was launched, the Yorkshire Amateur (Speed) Skating Championships were held at Carlton Pond, near Selby, while pupils from Bootham School played ice hockey in York's Victoria Park.

50 YEARS AGO

THERE was doom and gloom at Bootham Crescent after York City lost a Division Three relegation battle 2-0 at home to Bournemouth.

The Minstermen were playing with no confidence, and Paul Aimson, who seemingly wanted away, missed chances.

Supporters signed a petition to keep the striker. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Harry Fallon wanted to put in a transfer request, all of which was bad news ahead of another basement battle at home to Brentford.

York's Challenge Cup victory over Hull had got them thinking that they could turn over Leeds in the second round at Headingley, while Len Gooderidge didn't exactly achieve the feat of being in two places at once, but he did the next best thing.

The match secretary of York & District Table Tennis League played two matches for Combined Hospitals on the same night.

Having won the only set for the B team in their 9-1 defeat to Groves A, he left the building to play for the A team against Railway B, winning three rubbers in a 9-1 triumph.

There were fears that Tang Hall Tennis Club – one of the best clubs in the city in terms of producing players – would fold as one of their two courts was being converted into a car park at the hotel.

Meanwhile in cricket, Australia retained the Ashes with a bore draw at Melbourne.

England made 485-9 declared, Australia replying with 543-8 declared on the back of Bob Cowper's 307 and Bill Lawry's 108, England only having time to make 69-3 in their second innings.

20 YEARS AGO

WHILE York City were announcing a testimonial for their 26-year-old skipper Steve Tutill, their rugby league neighbours were coming to terms with the retirement of long-serving scrum half Steve Dobson.

The 32-year-old broke a finger in four places playing for York A against Workington A in what proved to be his last game for the club, but wanted to get into the pub trade in his home town of Hull, having failed to do so in York.

Tutill had made over 330 appearances for York City in a classic case of growing your own as he used to play for York Boys.

Meanwhile, York Rugby League coach Stewart Horton launched a strong defence of his players in the wake of their Challenge Cup defeat to amateurs West Hull, saying that if all they were motivated by was money, they wouldn't be playing for York.

In the amateur game's version of the Challenge Cup – the BNFL National Cup – struggling New Earswick All Blacks were the last York survivors after defeating Whitemoor Warriors 17-14 in a derby.

Warriors were leading 14-0 with 20 minutes left, only to succumb to tries by man of the match Simon Malarkey, Matt Kellett and Andy Bardy, who also added two conversions, with Malarkey landing a drop goal.

National Conference League Premier Division title hopefuls Heworth tasted the other side of the coin, however, losing 42-24 at home to Wigan St Judes.